Police called off a pursuit of a woman allegedly driving at high speed on State Highway 85 between Wedderburn and Alexandra yesterday afternoon, following at a safe distance for about 70km before arresting her.
"She failed to stop for police at Wedderburn. However, due to the high speed she was travelling, the pursuit was called off after a very short time, for the safety of the driver and others travelling on the open highway," Sergeant Dave Greaves, of Alexandra, said.
There was little traffic on the highway at the time and police had followed the vehicle, at a distance, keeping it under observation.
He declined to give the speed the woman was travelling but said it was "well above the speed limit".
Generally speaking, "fleeing drivers" posed a risk to the public, but police had to weigh up if the potential implications of a high-speed pursuit outweighed the need to stop the driver in the first place, Sgt Greaves said.
When the woman drove into Alexandra, police followed her as she turned into a dead-end street, where she was arrested.
The woman was later taken to Dunstan Hospital for observation, Sgt Greaves said.
The vehicle had allegedly been stolen from Wanaka.
• A 20-year-old Alexandra woman will appear in the Alexandra District Court tomorrow to face charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, failing to stop for police, dangerous driving and driving while incapable.
